Page 6 of Wandering Closer

Jake turns and starts walking to the trailer hitched behind his truck. “Yeah, that would be great. The couch comes in two pieces. Do you think you can carry the chaise side and I’ll get the other?” He pulls a tarp off the trailer, revealing the pieces and my rocking chair. “The couch is made with oak, the chair is maple. They’ve been treated and sealed, but it wouldn’t hurt to cover the couch in the winter months.”

They may be simple pieces, but I can tell they were crafted with care and love. “They are beautiful. If you can hand me the chaise, I can try to get it to the back.”

He works quickly, unstrapping his ties and gingerly passing me the couch base. It’s heavy, but manageable, and I shuffle to the backyard with it, careful not to trip and drop it. Jake is right behind me with the larger piece, and he sets it down with ease before helping me set mine down.

“I’ve got a drill in my truck to connect these, if you want to come back out front with me and grab the cushions?”

“Oh, I thought I would have to get my own cushions. How much do I owe you for them?” My little legs work in overdrive trying to keep up with his long strides.

Jake turns, his cheeks getting a pink tint. “Nothing. My mom likes to craft, so she sews cushions for some of my items when she has free time. She made a little cushion for the rocking chair, too, but you don’t have to use it.”

It’s my laugh that rings out now. This big man talking about his mom crafting for him is entirely too cute. He opens the back door of his truck and starts stacking forest green pillows in my arms. He tucks his drill and some screws in his pocket, then grabs the rest and we head back to the deck. I pile up the cushions while he connects the pieces, and notice there are two throw pillows mixed in as well. They are the same deep green but with white leaves hand sewn into the fabric.

“You better be paying your mom for these,” I say, as my fingers trace over the hand-crafted beauties. “These are incredible. I feel like I definitely need to pay more.”

“Nah, I’ll tell her you love them and that will be payment enough for her.” He arranges the pillows and cushions carefully, and my heart flutters with excitement at the thought of all the time I will spend on it. “Do you want me to take these chairs to the dump?” He asks, pointing at the wicker monstrosities.

“Please!” I practically shout at him. “Those things are a death trap.”

He laughs, picking up one under each arm. “No problem, I have some things I need to take there anyway,” he pauses, taking in the view from my deck, before continuing back to the front again. “It’s really peaceful back here.”

“Yeah, it’s my favorite. I spend every morning enjoying my coffee on the deck. Now I don’t have to sit on the half-rotten boards, so thank you,” I trail behind him.

He throws the wicker chairs onto his trailer before unloading the rocking chair. “Can you grab the cushion for this one? It’s in the front seat. I’m assuming this goes in the house?”

“Yeah,” I nod, grabbing the cushion. “I’ll get the door for you.”

I lead him into the house and show him the little spot in front of the fireplace where I want it. “Thank you so much for everything. I’ll let Michele know she didn’t lie about your furniture, and please don’t forget to thank your mom.”

“I’m glad you like it all,” his honeyed voice says as he heads back out my front door. “It was nice to meet you, Lily. I’m sure I’ll see you around.” He says with a knowing look in his eye that I don’t quite understand.

“See you around, Jake.” I wave him off as he loads up into his truck, then head back inside. Now I have the perfect spot to eat my dinner in comfort.

CHAPTER FOUR

thoren

It has been a long fucking week, and the beer in my fridge is calling my name. I know Jake is going to try to drag me out to the bar tonight, but no part of me wants to go. A beer on the porch while throwing the ball to Shadow sounds like the perfect evening. My truck rambles up the gravel driveway to find a black truck identical to mine already parked out front. I pull up next to it since he’s blocking the side of my garage I can park in and he knows it.

Shadow is at my feet, greeting me with eager barks and kisses before I fully get out of the truck. “Hey bubs, are you being a good girl?” I ask, dropping a kiss to her furry black head as I scratch her back. She barks some more, leading the charge to my front porch where Jake is sitting, one of my beers in hand. As I sit next to him, he pulls another from behind his back and passes it over.

“Grabbed you one, too,” he says, like he brought it and didn’t steal them from my fridge. I pop the top and take a deep swig in acknowledgement. We have keys to each other’s places and it’s not unusual for me to come home to find him drinking my beer and playing with my dog. Not that I mind, I hate when I have to leave Shadow alone.

“If you’re here, does that mean I don’t have to go downtown with you tonight?” He tips his head back in laughter as Shadow jumps at his feet, waiting for him to throw the ball again.

“Hey Jake. Good to see you Jake. Thanks for playing with my dog Jake,” he mutters, beer bottle to his lips. “No, we don’t have to go to town. But just to be a dick, I don’t even want to tell you what I’m doing here.”

I look over, intrigued. “The trailer gave away that you were in the area dropping off furniture. What’s special about that?”

“That girl you met in town. What was her name?” He asks, standing up to walk toward my door, so I follow him inside.

“Lily,” I answer, as he pulls two more beers from my fridge and heads to the back door like he owns the place. “Why, did you meet her too?” I try to tamp down the jealousy that starts coursing through me. Not that I have a claim to her, but I saw her first.

Outside, we take a seat on the rockers on my back porch and he finally throws the ball he had in his pocket for Shadow. She takes off like a bat out of hell, launching herself off the deck and into the woods, chasing the ball. “Blue eyes, long brown hair, tiny little thing. That’s your girl, right?”

“Yeah, that’s her. You’re killing me,” I kick at his boot with mine. “What about her?”

“She’s your new neighbor,” he says nonchalantly, like he didn’t just drop a bomb on me.

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